Weekend 1/16-1/19 - Warm, then really cold, but there's snow

INTRODUCTION
 The past week has seen intermittent light snow that has added to what we already had. Snow is still thin in some areas, but all the groomed centers are in full or nearly full operation, and most of the popular smoother backcountry skis are in good shape. 
Saturday will be warm with temperatures in the mid-30s and some more snow, but it starts to cool off on Sunday with Monday through Wednesday only seeing highs just approaching 10. Still, no significant new snow, but so far every flake that falls will stay.

JACKRABBIT TRAIL
The McKenzie Pass Section: Now skiable from Whiteface Inn Lane, with most rocks are fully covered on the hill, and very good cover as one approaches the lean-to. With the new snow, the ski down toward the pond is possible, but caution would still be advised - especially as one approaches the bottom where the snow is not as deep. Enough snow  now at McKenzie Pond Road that it's possible to ski right from the road. Very thin at the start under the thick trees and at a few points getting to the road at about the half-way point, but otherwise finally skiable.  
Old Mountain Road Section: Still a bit thin, but fully skiable. Some lumps on the hills and watch the beaver areas for wet areas.
Paul Smiths Section: We now have reports that logging prevents a through ski from the VIC to Lake Clear. The section from the VIC to Rt. 86 has good cover and only a few trees down that can be gotten around or over. South of Rt. 86 it is good skiing for about 1.5 miles to where the logging starts and the skiing ends. Coming up from Lake Clear, the old trolley line under the power lines is skiable until one hits the active logging road. 
Other sections: No reports on the Craig Wood to Lake Placid Club section, but this section should be  skiable, although the steeper hills near the Lake Placid Club could still be a problem.

GROOMED CENTERS

        ADK CASCADE WELCOME CENTER (PREVIOUSLY: CASCADE CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CENTER)
         https://adk.org/cascade-welcome-center/   518-837-5047
           Km Open and Groomed:  15  Track Set:  15 
          New snow: 2"  Packed Base Depth: 4-7"   Off Track: 12"   
          New Snow last 72 hours: 7"
          Surface Conditions: Packed powder on hardpack.
          Remarks: All trails open. 

         SCOTTS COBBLE NORDIC CENTER
         10 km of groomed trails on Craig Wood Golf Course - rentals, lessons operated by High Peaks Cyclery. Trail fee of $15/day - $10/half-day. Residents of the Tri-Lakes area ski for free (Donations appreciated)       scottscobblenordic.com.
518-523-9811 or 518-523-3742
          KM Open and Groomed: 10  Track Set: 10k
         New snow:  2"  Packed Base Depth:  4"   Off track: 8"   
          New snow past 72 hours:  7"
          Surface conditions:     Packed powder 
          Remarks:  
          MOUNT VAN HOEVENBERG:
        https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/daily-update/   518-523-2811
          Km Open and Groomed: 50  Track Set: 25 km  
          New snow:  2"  Packed Base Depth:  3-5" on Legacy trails   Off track: 9" 
          New snow past 72 hours:  7"
          Surface Conditions:   Packed powder. 
         Remarks:  Set track on most of the Legacy trails  on south side (a.k.a. cross-country side). Most trails on the north side (a.k.a. biathlon side) also open but no track set. Porter Mt. Loops reported as open with set track, but in-person reports indicate otherwise.

​           PAUL SMITH'S VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
         https://www.paulsmithsvic.org/trailconditions/  518-327-6241
           Km Groomed and Open: 30 km  Track Set:  15 
           New Snow:  2" Packed Base Depth: 6-8"   Off track:  12" 
           New snow past 72 hours:  8"
           Surface Conditions:  Packed powder. 
​           Remarks:  Set track on the wider trails where the Pisten-Bully can be used. Other trails open but not necessarily freshly groomed.
            DEWEY MOUNTAIN:
           https://www.facebook.com/deweymountainrecreationcenter  518-891-2697
            Km Open:  5   Track set: none
           New Snow:  2"  Packed Base Depth: 2-3"  Off Track:  
           New snow past 72 hours:  5"
           Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
           Remarks: Lower mountain trails open on thin cover. Upper trails still closed.

           TUPPER LAKE X-C SKI TRAILS
           https://www.facebook.com/Tupper-Lake-Groomed-XC-Trails-102907273119538/  518-359-8370
            Km Open: 10   Track set:   10
           New Snow:     Base Depth:      Off track:    
           New snow past 72 hours:  
           Surface Conditions:  Packed powder
​        Remarks:  The system mostly held a good base. No specifics on snowfall or overall snow depth, but the photos online indicate this remains the best groomed skiing in the area. 

BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS
While not yet true mid-winter conditions, there is more skiing to be had than we've had yet this season, although caution still advised on any hills as not all hazards are 'guaranteed' to be fully covered.  Wednesday 1/15,  report from Lake Colden says 26" at the cabin. 

Whiteface Highway: As has been the case for nearly a month, the highway is fully covered, but many sections may be narrow or bare given the high winds. 
Marcy Dam, Truck Trail: Skiable with most, but not all rocks covered. Meadows Lane now blocked off for the winter. Park on the left to leave room for ranger vehicles with snowmobile trailers in the event of an emergency. 
Fish Pond Truck Trail:  Very skiable all the way to Fish Pond. Lake ice should be safe after the cold weather this past weekend, but slush may be an issue for the alternate return.
Hays Brook Truck Trail: Definitely skiable to both the Sheep Meadow and Grass Pond.  Parking lot now being plowed, We can hope that continues.
Newcomb Lake Road: As usual, the best skiing.  Only minor and easily circimventes blowdown on the road to Moose Pond.
Gulf Brook Road to Boreas Ponds: Good coverage and some broken track. Initially, North Hudson said they had no intention of plowing any parking at Gulf Brook, but as of Saturday, 1/11, there was still parking for a few cars at the base of the hill. No report whether the plowing has continued with the new snow this week. Parking on the shoulder is legal, just not all that desirable. Additionally, the Ragged Mt. Road parking was also plowed. This is the access to Hoffman Notch.
Avalanche Pass: Skiable past Marcy Dam, but still with a few rocks to dodge as far as Avalanche Camp.  With all the new snow, the pass is now in good shape.  Lake Colden now has 26" of snow.  Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden are crossable. Caution is always advised near the outlet to Avalanche Lake. If in doubt, take to the trail on the west side about 50 yards before the outlet and cross on the bridge. 
​Ausable Lake Road: With the new snow, now just barely skiable, but the area is still the "donut hole" as far as snowfall, so not the best choice for the weekend. 
Wright Peak Ski Trail:  Skiable after it diverges from the hiking trail, but very rough getting from the point where one joins the hiking trail to where the ski trail diverges.
Mt. Marcy Ski Trail:  A current report says not really skiable until the ski trail junction above 50-meter bridge and then many blowdowns from there to Indian Falls.  Above Indian Falls, plenty of snow, but a snowshoe trench  to deal with.